Players Mov'in the News

Thursday Dec. 11, 2009 8:00am

Mets acquire Putz in 3 team, 12 player deal

Mets acquired RHP J.J. Putz, OF Jeremy Reed and RHP Sean Green; Mariners acquired OF Franklin Gutierrez, RHP Aaron Heilman, 1B Mike Carp, OF Endy Chavez, LHP Jason Vargas, OF Ezequiel Carrera and RHP Maikel Cleto; Indians acquired RHP Joe Smith and 2B Luis Valbuena.

The Mets will be praised for this, and they might even deserve it. However, Putz never did recover his best stuff after last season's elbow problems, and it's an open question of how he got his best stuff in the first place. In 2006 and 2007, he was about as dominant as any reliever in the game, amassing a ridiculous 186/26 K/BB ratio in 150 innings. However, he never showed that kind of potential in previous seasons and he didn't ever look like the same guy last season, even if he did finish with 56 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings. Odds are that the Mets are getting a very good setup man. However, he'll probably never again be the pitcher he was in 2006 and 2007 and he'll be quite expensive to keep beyond next season. He's due $5.5 million in 2009 and $9.1 million if his option for 2010 is picked up.

Oliver Perez SP Mets

Mets GM Omar Minaya put the chances of re-signing Oliver Perez at "50/50."

The Mets probably won't be in on Derek Lowe or A.J. Burnett, leaving Perez as the top free agent starter they could possibly sign. It's believed he's asking for $70 million over five years, and agent Scott Boras has indicated the Mets won't get a discount.
Source: Newsday


Brad Penny SP Dodgers

The Rockies have reportedly decided against making an offer to free agent Brad Penny.

The Penny market remains quiet, and there's been no indication that he's received offers as of yet. The Red Sox and Giants are believed to have some interest.
Source: Rockies.mlb.com

Juan Morillo RP Rockies

According to MLB.com, Juan Morillo could be the other player in a proposed Willy Taveras-Tim Redding deal between the Rockies and Nationals.

Morillo is considered expendable in part because he's out of options. The hard-throwing right-hander had another disappointing season in 2008 and didn't pitch in the majors outside of a brief callup in July.
Source: Hot Stove Blog


Eric Byrnes OF Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks and Red Sox are reportedly discussing a trade of Eric Byrnes and Julio Lugo.

This makes a lot more sense for Boston than the Tigers talks, though they'd have to have some idea that Byrnes is willing to be a fourth outfielder in order to make the deal. Byrnes is owed $22 million over the next two years, while Lugo is due $18 million. If acquired, Lugo would take over as the Diamondbacks' second baseman.
Source: ESPN.com



Kyle Farnsworth RP Tigers

A source told ESPN's Steve Phillips that Farnsworth has agreed to a two-year, $9.25 million deal with the Royals.

We'd just love to see a sensible explanation of what makes Farnsworth worth $4.6 million per season in a multiyear deal in a world in which Bob Howry gets $2.75 million for one season. Farnsworth has finished with ERAs of 4.36, 4.80 and 4.48 ERA the last three years and hasn't thrown 70 innings in a season since 2005. His back issues often seem to have him day-to-day and prevent him from pitching on back-to-back days. Also, there was no hint that the Royals had any competition for his services. Like with Jose Guillen a year ago, Dayton Moore was probably bidding against himself.
Source: ESPN.com


Mark Teahen OF Royals

Royals manager Trey Hillman admitted Wednesday that he doesn't currently have Mark Teahen in his projected lineup.

Hillman seemed to like the same lineup we had written out when the Coco Crisp deal went down last month: CF Crisp, SS Mike Aviles, LF David DeJesus, RF Jose Guillen, 1B Mike Jacobs, DH Billy Butler, 3B Alex Gordon, C Miguel Olivo and 2B Alberto Callaspo. The extreme lack of OBP in the fourth and fifth slots is a major problem, but those were probably two of Hillman's easiest calls.
Source: Kansas City Star


Jack Wilson SS Pirates

Royals GM Dayton Moore denied that his team had any interest in trading for Jack Wilson.

The Royals would like to create payroll space for Rafael Furcal, but they're not going to make the effort to bring in an expensive, less-talented shortstop. There are no serious suitors for Wilson at the moment. The Twins and Dodgers could reconsider him at some later date, but they clearly have higher priorities.
Source: Kansas City Star